Translation of mursya’s post (RUS)

It’s a bold title, but there is reason to be proud!

Last week Zurich celebrated the national ZüriFäscht holiday (see my report for a Swiss newspaper). A crowd of some 2 million people spent three days enjoying the festivities, which included amusement park rides, amateur artists on both sides of the lake, and, of course, the largest and most grandiose fireworks show in Europe. The holiday takes place every three years and is absolutely top class.

Yet I could not have imagined just what an amazing experience it would be for me personally until I looked at the program. On Friday 2 July the fireworks show was accompanied by the West Kazakhstan Philharmonic Orchestra, who performed Dies Irae (from Requiem), written by Welsh musician and composer Karl Jenkins.

I listened proudly with my head held high. What great musicians we have!

From Wikipedia:

“The West Kazakhstan Philharmonic Orchestra was formed after the Regional Governor of West Kazakhstan approached Marat Bisengaliev with the intention of forming an orchestra specifically to compete in the annual Uralsk International Violin Competition. Bisengaliev acted as Founder and Art Director of the new symphony orchestra, which first performed on 30 May 2003 in Kazakhstan. The orchestra later toured England, Italy, Poland, Ukraine, India, and Kyrgyzstan.”

Some pictures of the celebration: